Wednesday, August 06, 2014

Yesterday afternoon on the High Street was electrifying

20 comments:

Anonymous
said...

It was very enlightening to see Mr Murphy in action on the High Street yesterday. A masterclass in how to avoid actually answering any questions. I saw one very polite man ask a question and Mr Murphy then gestured vaguely to someone else and said he would come back and answer this gentleman's question, he wanted to answer this other person first. Eventually the gentleman again, very politely, asked Mr Murphy if he would care to answer the question he had asked, again, the same response. In between avoiding the issue Mr Murphy kept on waving to passerby's and shouting "Hello, I'm Jim Murphy, MP!"It was quite embarrassing and cringeworthy.

Seemed to me to that Jim Murphy was ambushed by a crowd of rebel rousers who had no interest in conducting a reasoned debate - surprised he put up with them for so long! It was enough to make you consider voting No!

I am an undecided but I have to say the behaviour of the yes campaigners was a disgrace and an affront to democracy. Although undecided, I am more inclined to vote no as I am appalled by the bullying tactics of the yes campaign as seen in the video. These campaigners, yes and no, are there to discuss the issues with the general voters and not as an opportunity to lynch the others with such bullying tactics. And I see one is a local councillor, she should hang her head in shame.

There are times when I think that the “Yes” campaign might have a point – in fact, they have quite a few in their favour. The strongest is that we rarely get the government we vote for. But having viewed the video they failed to make a case and can only be characterised as belligerent and bellicose. Rather than debate the issues, they simply harangued Jim Murphy – like dogs with a bone. I hadn't a clue what point the lady to the right was trying to make. She seemed be accusing him of not being patriotic. He was also accused of not answering the question! Which one from the deluge that was rained down on him? Hardly fair I'd say.

The attitude to someone with a different viewpoint, often exemplified by Mr Salmond, worries me. They question integrity or patriotism or shout them down or belittle them when they try to express a view? And you see, that's what worries me about voting “Yes”. Will we end up being governed by the “thought police”? Just answer the legitimate questions asked by either the undecided or “Better Together”?

I worry that the future they outline is predicated on a wing and a prayer. There's a chance it could work but it's an all or nothing gamble. In the world of politics there are no certainties and wild assumptions have been made about what is achievable. If we keep the Pound, on what terms? No one knows. We may still be Europeans but what if the EU lock us out for the next 10 years? No one knows. I can't see Spain supporting us. How do we split the armed forces? No one knows. Move Trident yet still be part of NATO. Excuse me?What happens to jobs, investment, pensions, social security, healthcare, etc. if this brave new world fails to materialise? You can't rely on oil money as Mr Salmond said it should go into growing a fund like Norway has. There's a lot that's seriously wrong with the set-up we have but I'm as worried about the Yes ability to deliver as the attitude it will bring to government. Not sure I want to live in that world.

So come on “Yes” people. Less belligerence; more respect for those with different viewpoints. Make a case based on facts rather than wishful thinking. Right now I'm not yet persuaded to take such a huge leap of faith.

I'm a yes supporter but some of the actions of those from both sides just make me cringe. It's things like this that are the reason people are distancing themselves from the whole thing. People don't want to discuss it in fear that someone with an opposing view will jump down their throat, shout at them or worse. It just doesn't help the discussion.

The future is uncertain and that remains true if we stay in the union just as much as if we go it alone.

I'm voting yes because Westminster does not represent Scotland's interests and why should they? In the UK we're a minority group. I want to see Scotland be able to Govern itself, we don't need to be the richest country in the world we just need to be able to look after our own. We may not be perfect as an independent country but we should be allowed to make our own mistakes.

The Jim Murphy BattleBus whistle-stopping around Scotland is for the glorification of Mr Murphy. He didn't answer a single question. His "bagmen" broke election rules the evening before his visit flyposting the High Street. He was as condescending and patronising as anticipated. He continued the scaremongering myths that have predominated in all UKOK/BT/NB/NT marketing.The real political discussion is happening on people's doorsteps.Scotland can and will do much better without sunny Jim. As per most Unionist politicians - he wants to abolish the House of Lords from the inside. He wants to sort social division "next time". "Never, Never" or "Jam Tomorrow" Politics.How many independent countries in the world regret their decision to self-determine?Would you want your neighbour - even your favourite neighbour - telling you what you can and cannot do in your own house?

Watching that video was a great way to convince me to vote NO. A decent and good MP like Jim Murphy being shouted down with no proper debate by the likes of our SNP councillors Liz and Colin Macauley(notably hiding his face) gives you an inkling of what Scotland might turn out like if YES got their way........NO THANKS !

The issue I have as an undecided voter is that the Yes campaign has failed to answer the questions that matter. The issue of what currency we will use is a case in point and goes to the heart of the matter. What currency my pension is going to be paid in and whether Scotland on its own will be able to continue to afford to pay one at current levels is a huge issue. If we stay in the Union I know my pension will be paid in pounds and is more likely to be maitained at its current spending power. If the Yes campaign can't even answer simple questions about the currency an independent Scotland will use I'm inclined to stick with the Union. I'd love to live in an independent Scotland but I'm not sure I can afford it.

at least the no people aren't constantly banging on doors, shoving leaflets and papers through letter boxes every single day or getting in peoples faces about it at the pub unlike the yes lynch mob. The amount of rubbish the yes lot put through my door is bloody ridiculous. they've persuaded me to vote no, well done yes team.